Macintosh Books

This little book is a goldmine for nurses and others who work in the health professions. It is compact, full of information, up to date and has the added bonus of a CD-ROM which enables practitioners to print out patient information specific to a particular person's prescription. Highly recommended as a personal or organisational reference!!

This book is good only if you are already thoroughly familiar with pharmacology, and you only need the highlights in order to understand thoroughly. However, if you really want to know exactly how drugs work in the human body, don't buy this book--you will be frustrated by its vague descriptions. I would recommend the PDR for that (you'll remember it longer if you have a clearer picture). Also the organization is a bit awckward. It's great for comparing drugs within a category which is great to do in your liesure time, or if you are prescribing drugs, but as a quick reference, it's not the best. For instance, if you come across an unfamiliar drug and want answers quickly, the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook's alphabetical list is much faster; with this book you have to go to the index first for practically every drug. Also, PDR's N.D.H. explains the how's and why's better (especially about pharmockinetics). One good thing about it, though, the adverse reaction listings distinguish the common and life threatening ones with italics and bold, which makes it quick and easy to focus on what is important. I have not seen this feature in any other book. But PDR's NDH and especially the PDR helps you make the mental connection between mode of desired action and unintended adverse reactions. But this book simply lists them as seemingly unrelated facts, which makes them difficult to remember. This book did impress me with how much information it provided on herbals--they really keep up with all the brand new information.

I can grab this thing and find out what I need to know in a big hurry. It has all the essentials. The 2001 edition continues the fine tradition of its predecessors, with meds grouped by function, an index that covers both generic and brand names, and drug descritions that tell you what you really want to know right now for treating someone. How good is this book? With the PDR available to me for free, I am paying money to get this one.

IN addition to the ... book Info and other reveiwers, I'd like to say how thankful I am with this drug handbook. I actually carry this one with me in my nursing pocket during duty, It's light and not bulky. Pictures of meds in all colors and sizes, generic and brand names. It even have varieties of forms/colors from different companies for the same medications. Adverse reaction is also mentioned in this handbook. You have a question about a drug? Open this handbook and get answers in a flash. Surely a must for all nurses.

This book is a great tool for Pro Tool users. I would highly recommend it.

This book is wonderful! Its clear and concise outline on Pro Tools LE 5.0 and ideal for the new digital recorder! I wish I purchased this book earlier! I recommend this book for anyone who is learning Pro Tools Le 5.0.

This book by Roback is something of a godsend. Not that the manaual that came with ProTools was shabby, it's just that the manual assumes the reader is already at some level of proficieny.
This book demistifies some of the areas that the manual just did not explain.
Better yet, this book is organized for "quick look-up" use. It seems a ProTools user always needs information about a certain subject or operational proceedure. It can be a nightmare trying to get a quick answer with the factory manual. Not only does Roback take you precisely where you need to go effortlessly, he provides clear illustrations and a 1 - 2 - 3 step guide for each
function you are trying to implement. If you want to end your frustration with PT, this is the book to have.
Also, this book is currrent. It covers the latest version of PT (5.1) and th first I have seen with information about the new MBox.
If you are looking for the definitive source for PT...this is the book for you.

This book offered an excellent overview for yours truly who found himself starting completely from scratch. A combination of read, try out, screw up, read, try out some more left me recording songs in a matter of a couple hours after getting things installed. Basic yet essential insights into getting the most out of your recording are included as well including adding width, depth and height to your sounds, creating space for instruments with EQ and ordering effects properly. One caveat, once you get into connecting external devices through OMS (Mac users) and how to take advantage of all the midi features you will find yourself in the lurch. Got on a first name basis with the techies at digidesign attempting to route my midi properly and had to figure out a lot of the features myself. Attention: move midi regions in "region" edit mode only! Anyway, the basics are there, however. As for everything else, between reading and experimenting, you're in business.

I had to purchase this book for my Page Layout class. Having rarely used Quark before the class, I was pleased that this book is clear and concise. It offers a lot of information in a clean, streamlined way. The book also has a list of Quark shortcuts for both Mac and PC which come in handy once you get used to the program (and can start zooming around).

It's a wonderful tool to keep handy when designing in Quark.

QuickStart Guide books have always been my first choice for learning software. They leave out all the conversation and get right to the point. Usually, I don't have time for a chat, I just want to find out how to accomplish something. If you need quick info, the QuickStart Guides are the books for you.

Although I am leaning more toward InDesign for layout now, this book is good for jumping from QuarkXPress 6.5 to version 7, One thing I particularly like and use often is the keyboard shortcut list. I wish I could say I like the application as much as I like the book.

Im very happy with this book overall. I actually used it in my preparation for my Quark XPress Expert Certificaton exam. It saved me on a few occasions during the exam as well (open book). I highly recommend this book for all levels of users as it has quick and efficient tricks and techniques.

I have always liked the QuickStart Guides because I learn visually and appreciated having them show what the menu, screen and final result should look like. However, while this book does show the new features and there are many, I was extremely disappointed in that they didn't review the powerful new Web layout features that were stressed at MacWorld and on Quarkk's web site. Here, they refer to an earlier book acting as if nothing different has happened. It has and someone, somewhere needs to write a book on just this feature.

Quark showed us in their MacWorld booth the ease of creating both a print and web page at the same time, in fact dragging items from one to the other. For someone who struggles with Dreamweaver, this was web design heaven. Quark does all the heavy lifting and while their own book is good, it hardly begins to show what can be
done.

A ggod help to a non expert like myself

epitomises the switch to Mac. Nice for an overview or cheat-sheet. Good for covering all with some detail. Worth the money

I have been thinking about buying a Apple computer and this book is excellent reading before buying.

A friend loaned me this book when I bought my first Mac a couple of months ago. Having been a PC user for many years, I was fearing the change. But this book made the transition simple and easy. It may be that the Mac itself is so ease to use, but I don't think so. Whenever I wanted to do something that the PC could never do, the Mac was able (with the book to guide me through the simple steps).

The book helped me transfer all my PC files across to the Mac, update my calendar and address book, sync with my phone and interact with my iPod. It was simply laid out, with everything easily discovered by leafing through the index. I am sure there will be more to discover about getting the full use of the programs provided, but thus far the book has given me everything I need and more.

Excellent book, particularly for a Mac novice with some idea of how to use a computer.

I needed this to get a little more out of Mac Mail and It didn't disappoint! It gives you enough detail to really get the most out of the software. We use it for our business.

Email was the first killer application of the Internet, predating the Web and its browsers by over a decade. And here, for those of you on Macs, is Apple's latest front end to email usage. Kissell goes into how to use the client side GUI. As you might expect, Apple offers a clear and attractive design. Made as intuitive as possible.

Of course, there is a little bit more to email than just the client side. You have to get your messages from a message server. An unavoidable complication. So Kissell delves into POP and IMAP servers, without drowning you in technical details. He gives very straightforward explanations, directed at a lay audience.

As a sign of our times, he offers an extensive discussion of spam filters for the Mac. By now, there are several available. None of these are very effective. Filtering messages on keywords that are bad words may detect some porn messages, but the nonporn spam is much harder to tackle by this method. Plus, there are many ways for a spammer to insert deliberate misspellings, to avoid these tests.

The Bayesian methods are probabilistic and require training on known sets of spam and nonspam. Plus, such Bayesians can be poisoned by spammers sending messages with all sorts of irrelevant words. You will need to periodically retrain it.

You will just have to tolerate the spam any of these methods let through, until better techniques come along.

This is the book that I needed when I first set up Mail. It would have saved me lots of frustration with my trial and ERROR method. I would recommend that anyone who is just starting out with Mail read this book FIRST.

The step by step instructions for setting up mailboxes were very good. The book gives very clear examples with illustrations on setting up preferences to help sort your incoming mail. The troubleshooting checklist has a lot of solutions to those annoying ERROR messages that sometimes pop up when sending mail. The author covered some areas that I had never given a thought to, such as backing up email. After looking at all my saved emails, I realized that I did have a lot of important info that was not backed up. That issue has now been corrected.

Another section that I found very helpful was on setting up rules to direct your emails to the proper folders and help prevent spam. I have already cut down the amount of spam I was receiving by using these methods.

The only drawback to this book is that it was published before the Tiger release, But you can get free updates online. Full instructions on downloading the updates are given in the book. These cover all the great new features that Tiger has for Mail.

C. McKinney

Review: "Take Control of Apple Mail" by Joe Kissell

Peachpit Press and TidBITS Electronic Publishing, 2005

Reviewed by FMUG member Jim Martin

TidBITS is well known for its series of "Take Control" publications on the web. They have now worked with Peachpit on this printed book covering Apple Mail.

Mail was created as part of OS X, and has become the mail application of choice for many Mac users. While its features and controls are, typical of all Apple software, "clear and clean", there are some capabilities for which users will appreciate further guidance. "Take Control of Apple Mail" does this quite well. One advantage is that TidBITS offers free electronic updates to the volume, solving a common problem of obsolescence which affects so many computer books.

Author Kissell focuses on Mail operations beyond the basics. While many users may rarely need such features, when they do this book will be a valuable aid. It is based in part on unpublished tips and techniques which help make the user smarter about Mail and able to use it more smoothly.

Handling outgoing mail, viewing incoming mail, and attachments for both are covered, along with saving your communications. Also, to quote, there are "nine pieces of essential advice about rules, seven ways to improve your Previous Recipients list, and six tips for working in the Viewer window". Of course, the critical relationship between Mail and the Address Book is included. And despite the quality of the Mail application, there is information about the sometimes needed troubleshooting.

While this reviewer had previously consulted other texts on Mail, he found refreshing new ideas in "Take Control" and better ways to deal with several features he had used a number of times. For everyone other than those who use only Mail's most basic capabilities, this will be an excellent addition to the Mac user's library.

I am a big fan of Sumerset Maugham. The problem with this particular book (and it does not happen in any other I have read/bought) is that it is full of typos!

There are repeated phrases; using form instead of from; too instead of to.. etc. The amount of errors is unprecedented and I wonder is this some sort of "off brand" reprint??

I would suggest looking for a different maker for these stories. It must be out there.

It's great news that they'll soon be issuing a new edition of this collection. The stories are timeless and beautifully rendered. Maugham explores everything from the evils of colonialism to the rigid social expectations of turn of the century Chicago aristocrats -- and in each case he transports us to the South Pacific. He's one of the great practitioners of the short story and this collection provides us with a concise glimpse at his handiwork.

Somerset Maugham was a veteran of British intelligence during World War I, an experience that was to influence his views of the world in subsequent years as well as his writing. The Trembling of a Leaf is a compilation of six short stories and two sketches by Maugham, including his famous story "Rain," an ironic look at the dark consequences and of being too fixated on the object of your affections, -- which is perhaps better known by its film and theater adaptation as "Sadie Thompson." Romance, the cruel forces of reality, and a keen attention to the unforeseen color this classic anthology showcasing Somerset Maugham's literary genius.

This book consists of 8 short stories, many of them playing in the South Sea Islands. After reading this book you will want to go there and enjoy the beauty of life. Beautifully written, a pure pleasure to read!

This book answered many questions I had on WebObjects. The only thing I don't like is the screenshots are from a Windows environment. I would love to have screenshots from both Windows and MacOS.

It is a very good starter for learning WebObjects. ....

WebObjects Framework i18N and L10n (internationalization and localization) are not covered. These are significant topics especially for Asian language web sites!

It is better if this book also discuss more EOF stuff such as nested editing context, Java client EOF and multithreading issues.

This book is somewhat equivalent to the WebObjects Development 1 course offered by Apple. It might be for WebObjects 4.5, but everything in the book can be done in 5.0 without any large hassles (be sure to note that NSGregorianDate has been replaced by NSTimestamp). I haven't seen the "WebObjects5 for Java" book, however if you are wanting to learn WebObjects and looking for a book to set you on your way, this book will be a definite help. I suggest you read Apple's "WebObjects for HTML" PDF, then this book, then look at the old "EnterpriseObjects Framework Development Guide" PDF (listed under WO4.5 in Documentation on Apple's website) to get a clear view of what you are doing with regards to development with WebObjects.

I'm hoping the author will make a sequel to this book which covers most of what is learned in Apple's WebObjects Development II course. WebObjects has always been the best web development tool out there, but has lacked adequate documentation; with books like this, it is possible for more than just hardcore NeXTers to appreciate the power of WO.

The book is good, but based on WebObjects 4, not 5 which has been released.

Beware, it does not have a CD as listed on the site.

It is a basic book, which assists you with installation to building a site.

It was the first book on WiFi I read - my starter book. FOllowed by Jack Unger's book and many others. It still stands up as well written and good discussion of WiFi use, technology, and how to effectively use it.

About 6 months ago i decided to go wireless. I could have really used this book at that time. I did not have any big problems during my set-up, but i did have a few questions. I did find myself having to page back to re-define the many acronyms. If your mind works like mine, i would advise everyone to take notes.

What i liked most -each chapter is dedicated to a different aspect of the wireless system. This makes it easy to find the precise info. you need, without a long search. There is even a chapter dedicated to troubleshooting your wireless network. One of the most interesting chapters, i thought, is the chapter "Wireless Gadgets".

This chapter gives you a look at how Wi-Fi technology has moved from the wireless network to consumer electronics. Those Wi-Fi monitors sound really good to me. I also liked that the book explains everything for the PC and Mac.

I have a training room in my basement with eight computer stations. At this time, they are not networked and several students have asked about my plans to connect them. While I currently have no plans to network them, I will no doubt do so in the near future. Even though I have investigated physical connections between the machines, I had not considered the wireless option until I read this book.
From it, I learned all the background information needed to make a choice concerning whether to use wire or broadcast connections. I am now convinced that wireless is currently the best way to network the machines. From explanations of how a wireless network works to how to connect the machines, the basics of using wireless on both Windows and Apple machines is covered in understandable and complete detail.
A great deal of paper and ink is also devoted to the security aspects of wireless connections. In the world we find ourselves in today, this is a necessity, to ignore it is to place yourself and all you communicate with at risk.
While predictions in the computer business are always problematic, one of the safest is that wireless computing will supplant a large amount of wired connections. From this book, you will learn how wireless works and how it can work for you.

The Wireless Networking Starter Kit is subtitled the practical guide to W-Fi networks for Windows and Macintosh, and this book by veteran writers Adam Engst and Glenn Fleishman is a complete success. It is full of real world "how to" information on how to understand, design, configure, troubleshoot, and use, a wireless network.

Engst penned the enormously successful Internet Starter Kit, and publishes the very popular TidBITS newsletter. Glenn Fleishman has co-written Real World Adobe GoLive, and has written for the New York Times. Their respective resumes set high expectations, and The Wireless Networking Starter Kit meets them all.

While hard-core Macintosh users may feel slighted that the book's subtitle leads off with Windows, Engst and Fleishmann gives Macintoshes their full attention in each chapter. This book, like all good Wi-Fi/802.11b networking books, is fully platform-agnostic.

One thing that distinguishes the Wireless Networking Starter Kit (WNSK) from some other Wi-Fi books is that the authors spend a fair number of pages early on discussing the basics of networking, both wired and wireless. This is a good tactic, as many readers are using the ease of Wi-Fi/Airport to make their first forays into what can be an esoteric and confusing networking world. Having a grounding in the basics will ease the potential frustration that comes from not really understanding how networking works when you first plunge into the deep end of the 802.11b swimming pool.

Chapter 3, How Wireless Works, is less detailed than other books but enough detail is provided for the reader to understand the essential concepts. I found the best tidbit to be that airborne water particles can absorb or deflect radio waves in the 802.11b frequency band, something I had not read in more technical discussions.

Chapter 4, Connecting Your Computer, leads the reader through the "how do I set up my network settings" morass. Plenty of screenshots are used to show how OS 9 and OS X Macs, and Win 98/XP machines are configured. I've found that the help provided by this type of graphic hand-holding is the key for most people, as some understand the hardware concepts of networking, but cannot wade through the computer jargon to know what number goes in what dialog box! When you get through the relevant part of this chapter, your computer should be ready to go.

I found it refreshing that the authors heavily emphasize planning before doing when a wireless network is first installed. For me, a long-time advocate of the "just start plugging stuff in" approach to network design, this is a novel concept. If I had taken the time to follow Engst's and Fleishmann's advice, my own early forays into networking would have been much easier. Included in this chapter on network building is a good overview of various hardware devices such as print spoolers, switches vs. routers, and bridges.

For me, the best two chapters in WNSK are the discussions of wireless security, and how to actually use wireless networking in the big, wide real world of airports, coffee houses, and offices. The security chapter pulls no punches about the pros and (mostly) cons of the wireless WEP security protocol, but the authors don't foment panic by discussing what level of security is appropriate for what kind of user. Various techniques such as SSL, VPN, SSH, are covered in enough detail to show the user that reasonable wireless security can be obtained with a modicum of effort.

Taking It on the Road was a great read. I found the chapter to be a great resource listing both for-fee commercial networks, as well free networks. Hints on how to connect to many different providers are included, as well as how to resolve possible connection problems.

The section on long-distance wireless was interesting, but I do wonder how many novice to intermediate uses will use WNSK to build their own special antennas and establish long-distance wireless networks. More generally useful was the section on troubleshooting wireless networking problems.

The Wireless Networking Starter Kit is the best book so far for the average reader on Wi-Fi/AirPort/802.11b networking. If you want to cut the (Ethernet) cord, start by reading this book!

MacMice Rating: 5 out of 5

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David Weeks ...

Tim writes well, describing himself in gently self-deprecating tones whilst always managing to support the Yemeni perspective. Yemen is inexplicable as it is ungovernable in any other terms than Yemeni, so Tim makes a great job of explaining how Arabic works and how oral traditions keep a living history alive in place where history is now, and possibly will forever be. It's fun to read, there are the weird bits, funny bits, and if you want a lighter introduction to the sometimes enigmatic Tim as a person you can read the bit in Eric Hansen's book where Eric goes walking with Tim and looses his footing on a cliff and falls in love with a bedouin girl. Not so Tim, who is impervious to flirty bedouin ladies (wise man) and skips over mountains powered by a cheekful of qat. My problem is that I love the place, so anything readable is great. This is more than readable, it's a gentle glide through Yemeni history which is complex as anything (and still is) since there is no single entity - it's basically a mass of sub-plots... Lovely. As Tim says in the beginning of his book, a load of digressions. To be dipped into. Holiday stuff. Read it after Yemen and realise what you missed!

This is a book of poetry. MacKintosh has immersed himself so much in the culture that he has produced poetry as prose, in the highest genre of the Arab.

I try to write critical reviews. To weigh the good and the bad. I can't think of anything bad to say about this book. Whether or not I get to see the place, Mackintosh makes it come alive with his vivid writing and incredible sense of Arabic history. He writes mythically, so that his stories- his or retold by others- remain with you for years. I wish I had the time to get to all the places he describes!

But it's not just history that Mackintosh brings in. He has a wealth of understanding of linguistics, especially of the Arabic world. Throughout the text he indicates the historical links with his experiences, through the languages of the people. He even brings in literature and history from other lands in a smooth manner that fits completely with the narrative.

I'm sitting here in a netcafe in Ta'izz, Yemen, having just reread the book in my travels this past week in the country. It's great to read a book about the country you're traveling in- to simultaneously see the places you want to visit, and read about the places you've just finished. After reading his account of the Rock Palace outside Sana'a, I realized I had to go visit it. I talked with an expat who gave me a lift, who said he met Tim once- a guy who truly became Yemeni. I think about him as I try out qat. I'm constantly looking at where he writes about and looking on the map to see where I am.

There are four kinds of people who should read this book. Those planning a trip to Yemen. Those traveling or living in Yemen. Those who have been to Yemen. And those who never plan to do any of the three, but like good literature. It's a pleasure to read in itself.

Mr. MacIntosh-Smith has written, not just a guide book, but a real introduction to this beautiful country. His deep knowledge, understanding and love for the country, its history, topography, culture and language are clear. Moreover, he has the gift of conveying this understanding in prose which is succinct and uncloying - an unusual quality in travel writers. This is a beautifully written book which can be enjoyed even by those who have never visited the country, and perhaps have no intention of doing so.

The illustrations are excellent.

I recommend 'Travels in Dictionary Land' both to actual and armchair travellers

This is a wonderful book. Well produced, real artwork (not just photos), beautifully written, and truly inspired. It is rare that a travel writer has such a wealth of experience and knowledge to draw on. This book is set apart though, by the author's deep and enduring love for the country and its people. This is no dry historical chronology, and marks a revival of the storytellers art. Where are his other books???

Excellent beginner to intermediate level user of Acrobat adapting to version 8 Standard. Sets up good groundwork for understanding version 8 Professional and LiveCycle Designer. Adobe is probably going to be the premier documentation program in the coming years due to its versatility and interactive features; if you haven't already done so, I would recommend getting a background in it using this book.

My instructor recommended the Quick Start series as the best option, and she is right. I find the Adobe Acrobat 8 Quick Start guide to be every bit as comprehensive as the manufacturer's user guides. If you can hold back and wait for the Illustrator CS3 Quick Start guide, which will not be available until next month, I recommend that you do. I had to buy Real World Illustrator CS3 Industrial Strength Production Techniques, because I had a project immediately due, and find that while the guide is beautifully produced with many color pages, its size is unwieldy. The Quick Start series gives you everything you need to learn the basics and more in a compact format.

Going from Acrobat 6 Pro to Acrobat 8 was much easier with this book. I have bought books from Peachpit press before and their structure is easy to follow. Even for just looking up what you need, it is easy to get it then get out. I would recommend this book to anyone.